SOME 71 per cent of parents say they are shouldering increased cost for children's education this year, according to the latest survey by Bangkok Poll.The survey covered 1,183 parents in the capital and adjacent provinces. The respondents' children were in kindergarten, primary school or secondary schools.

According to the findings, the parents pay Bt4,000 on average for the purchase of their children's learning-related materials.

The survey found that 47 per cent of parents had financial problems at the start of the semester because family living costs and children's educational expenses had risen.

When unable to make ends meet, 16 per cent borrowed money from relatives, siblings and friends, while 15 per cent said they had children re-use uniforms and learning materials from the previous academic year.

Some 13 per cent of respondents said they reduced the number of things they had to buy for their children's education.

Asked about the government's policy to provide 15 years of free education, 32 per cent of parents said this policy had eased their financial burden quite significantly, while 30 per cent said it hardly helped and 35 per cent described it as quite useful.